AMES, Ia. — Now that Oklahoma has clinched a spot in the College Football Playoff after its 41-17 stroll against Texas Christian in Saturday’s Big 12 Conference championship game, we have important, Iowa State-based questions to ask.

Was TCU so underwhelming that it doesn’t even make a New Year’s Six bowl game?

Does Iowa State go to the Liberty Bowl, TCU to the Alamo, Oklahoma State to the Camping World Bowl, Texas to Houston, West Virginia to the Cactus Bowl, Kansas State to the Heart of Dallas and Texas Tech to somewhere outside the league's bowl alliance?

Does the fact that TCU lost only against Oklahoma (twice) and Iowa State once really mean the Horned Frogs kinda-sorta don't have three defeats?

And then, could they lland in the New Year’s Six's Cotton or Fiesta bowls?

Then, would Iowa State get invited to the Camping World Bowl in Orlando? Does Oklahoma State play in the Alamo Bowl? Is it West Virginia in the Liberty and Texas in the Houston Bowl and Kansas State in the Cactus and Texas Tech in the Heart of Dallas Bowl?

Or ... is it somewhere else?

Houston, anyone?

“The question becomes: Does TCU go up or not?” Iowa State athletics director Jamie Pollard had said last week.

"Going up" means being selected for a New Year’s Six game. "Or not" means participation in a bowl game affiliated with the Big 12.

Stay tuned.

Iowa State is an intriguing pick for someone, not only because the Cyclones haven’t been to a bowl game since the 2012 Liberty, but also because of the storylines they’ll pack with them.

Campbell and his staff have worked wonders in their second season in Ames. Joel Lanning plays extensively on both sides of the ball. Four quarterbacks have shared in the Cyclones’ best regular season since 2005. There’s a pair of 1,000-yard rushers on the team — David Montgomery this season, and Mike Warren in 2015.

Iowa State quarterback Joel Lanning (7) celebrates their win over Baylor as well as his 23rd birthday after an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, in Waco, Texas. Iowa State won 23-13.(Photo: Rod Aydelotte/AP)

What’s known for sure is that Iowa State will make its 13th bowl appearance, adding to a postseason resume that consists of a Sun Bowl, two Libertys, a Peach, a Hall of Fame, two Insights, a Humanitarian, two Independence Bowls, a Houston Bowl and a Pinstripe Bowl.

But where, for 2017?

The destination and opponent will be finalized sometime during Sunday’s early afternoon. Iowa State has scheduled a 2:45 press conference, when Campbell and players will discuss their next assignment.

So until then … Enjoy the wait.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at @RandyPete